Crown of Secrets (The Hidden Mage Book 1)
Page 26
After the intensity of my study, the exams themselves were an anticlimax. In combat, I was assigned to battle Dellion, and the two of us each managed to demonstrate several skilled moves before my eventual victory. She even smiled at me when the match was called in my favor, apparently feeling I had done my part to help her pass her exam.
Armand and Isabelle were the weakest of our year with a sword, and Mitchell had mercifully paired them together. Their bout was unimpressive, but apparently more than sufficient for a passing grade.
After lunch, I was ushered into an empty classroom where a sour-faced Amalia presided over my two written theory exams. My hand was cramping by the end of it, but there hadn’t been a single question I couldn’t answer.
I stepped out of the exam room feeling a weight lift from me. Neither General Haddon nor King Cassius had any excuse to expel me from their Academy now.
But almost immediately a different weight slammed down to take its place. I had been using the exams as an excuse to put off thinking about my bigger problems, but I could put them off no longer. Without study to take all my time, I would have to find a way to experiment with my new ability to manipulate power compositions. It wouldn’t be a simple task now I had decided I couldn’t ask Darius for help.
At the evening meal, Duke Francis appeared and announced that the entire Academy had passed their exams. We all cheered and banged our cutlery on the table, as the fourth year trainees stood and took a ceremonial lap around the room to our raucous encouragement.
I threw aside my royal dignity for the moment and banged and shouted with the rest of them. It was surprisingly cathartic.
When we returned to my suite afterward, Bryony surprised me by producing a chilled bottle of juice and a cake which she had somehow managed to procure from the kitchen.
“Tonight is a night for celebration,” she told me. “There is to be no talk of compositions or abilities or exams,” she paused and gave me a stern look, “or princes.”
“Yes, ma’am,” I said meekly. “I’ll drink to that.”
We spent the evening eating and drinking and reminiscing about the various times Bryony had visited Ardann during our childhoods, laughing until our sides hurt at the pranks we had played on my brothers and our parents.
On impulse, I asked her if she would return with me to Corrin for the summer.
“Perhaps your parents could come and spend time with us there?” I suggested. “I know my parents would love to see them. And Stellan always enjoys any time he can spend with energy mages.”
For a moment I thought I was asking too much and that Bryony must be longing for her own home. But she brightened at the suggestion.
“Of course I’d like to spend the summer in a palace instead of a small village.” She laughed and clapped her hands together. “And I’m sure I can convince my parents to come.”
I smiled in relief. If I was going to keep a secret this big from my parents, it would help to have a buffer of distraction between us. Plus, with my friend around, I was less likely to spend the summer thinking endlessly about Darius.
Bryony immediately launched into her many plans for our break—of which the most pressing seemed to be shopping—and I joined in the conversation with as much interest as I could muster.
And when I collapsed into my bed later that evening, it really did feel like a weight had lifted from my shoulders.
I still had to master my abilities. And my heart still ached every time I thought of Darius’s icy face and the barrier of mistrust that had somehow grown between us on both sides. But I had survived my first year as a trainee—despite my lack of power and being surrounded by my people’s traditional enemies—and I had emerged from the year far stronger than I could have dreamed.
Darius had promised that his father would not attack me again, and despite everything that now lay between us, I believed he would be true to his word. Just as I believed he had the strength and will to take his father’s throne in three years. Despite everything that had happened, I could return next year to the life I had built for myself here.
And while I didn’t have all the answers yet, and I still didn’t trust Jareth, I would have time enough to seek the truth next year. In the meantime, it was summer, and I was finally going to see my family again.
I couldn’t wait. It wouldn’t be the triumphal return I had envisaged, but perhaps I would still get to have that one day. Perhaps I would find a way to be of use to my kingdom while still staying true to myself. It was a dream worth holding onto.
Note from the Author
Read about Verene’s second year at the Kallorwegian Academy in Crown of Danger.
If you missed it, you can also read about the adventures of Verene’s mother, Elena, when she attends the Ardannian Academy as a commonborn and becomes the Spoken Mage, starting in Voice of Power.
To be informed of future releases, as well as Hidden Mage bonus shorts, please sign up to my mailing list at www.melaniecellier.com.
And if you enjoyed Crown of Secrets, please spread the word and help other readers find it! You could start by leaving a review on Amazon (or Goodreads or Facebook or any other social media site). Your review would be very much appreciated and would make a big difference!
Acknowledgments
It has been both a joy and a challenge to return to the world of Ardann, Kallorway and the Sekali Empire. The world has grown considerably since I wrote the first book about Verene’s mother, but there is still plenty left to explore. I’m so grateful to all the people who have been with me throughout this journey as well as the new ones I’m acquiring along the way. And, of course, I’m especially grateful to my readers and the enthusiasm so many of them have shown for this world. Without that excitement, the Hidden Mage series would likely never have existed.
A big thank you to my new beta reader, Naomi, as well as my usual loyal and talented crew, Rachel, Greg, Ber, Priya and Katie. And, of course, my editors, Mary, Deborah, and my dad.
It was a long process to decide on a new cover look for this new series, and I’m grateful for the patience and skill of my cover designer, Karri. I’m so pleased with the way we were able to experiment with a different style while still incorporating elements of the Spoken Mage covers.
It has been a time of high stress in my life lately, and I’m so grateful to all those family and friends who continually support me and who somehow have the patience to listen to me pour out my thoughts whenever I need an outlet. I am also, as always, grateful to God for sustaining me no matter what.
About the Author
Melanie Cellier grew up on a staple diet of books, books and more books. And although she got older, she never stopped loving children’s and young adult novels.
She always wanted to write one herself, but it took three careers and three different continents before she actually managed it.
She now feels incredibly fortunate to spend her time writing from her home in Adelaide, Australia where she keeps an eye out for koalas in her backyard. Her staple diet hasn’t changed much, although she’s added choc mint Rooibos tea and Chicken Crimpies to the list.
She writes young adult fantasy including books in her Spoken Mage world, and her three Four Kingdoms and Beyond series which are made up of linked stand-alone stories that retell classic fairy tales.
Also by Melanie Cellier
The Four Kingdoms
The Princess Companion: A Retelling of The Princess and the Pea (Book One)
The Princess Fugitive: A Reimagining of Little Red Riding Hood (Book Two)
The Coronation Ball: A Four Kingdoms Cinderella Novelette
Happily Every Afters: A Reimagining of Snow White and Rose Red (Novella)
The Princess Pact: A Twist on Rumpelstiltskin (Book Three)
A Midwinter's Wedding: A Retelling of The Frog Prince (Novella)
The Princess Game: A Reimagining of Sleeping Beauty (Book Four)
The Princess Search: A Retelling of The Ugly Duckling (Book Five)
Beyond the Four Kingdoms
A Dance of Silver and Shadow: A Retelling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses (Book One)
A Tale of Beauty and Beast: A Retelling of Beauty and the Beast (Book Two)
A Crown of Snow and Ice: A Retelling of The Snow Queen (Book Three)
A Dream of Ebony and White: A Retelling of Snow White (Book Four)
A Captive of Wing and Feather: A Retelling of Swan Lake (Book Five)
A Princess of Wind and Wave: A Retelling of The Little Mermaid (Book Six)
Return to the Four Kingdoms
The Secret Princess: A Retelling of The Goose Girl (Book One)
The Mystery Princess: A Retelling of Cinderella (Book Two)
The Spoken Mage
Voice of Power (Book One)
Voice of Command (Book Two)
Voice of Dominion (Book Three)
Voice of Life (Book Four)
Power of Pen and Voice: A Spoken Mage Companion Novel
The Hidden Mage
Crown of Secrets (Book One)
Crown of Danger (Book Two)
Crown of Strength (Book Three) coming in 2020
Crown of Power (Book Four) coming in 2021